Dengue in the WHO African Region: Situation Report 01: 19 December 2023
Since the start of 2023, over 5 million cases and 5 000 deaths have been reported worldwide from over 80 countries in all six WHO regions. The global risk level was determined to be high due to the high number of people at risk (40% of the worldwide population), the number and magnitude of outbreaks, climate change consequences, including the ongoing El Niño phenomenon and complex humanitarian crises, the escalation in dengue-related deaths, and the lack of an integrated approach to prevent and control dengue outbreaks.
In the WHO African region, as of 19 December 2023, a total of 171 991 suspected cases of dengue, including 70 223 confirmed and probable cases and 753 deaths have been reported from 15 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Togo). In 2023, the number of dengue infections in the region has risen nine-fold compared to 2019.
Burkina Faso continues to be the country that has been most impacted, accounting for 85% of reported cases and 91% of recorded fatalities.
Senegal and Mali have experienced simultaneous outbreaks of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, highlighting the issue of under-reporting of cases due to limited capacity for early detection, and confirmatory diagnostics in most countries and the need for an integrated arboviral response.
As per the WHO Emergency Response Framework (ERF), a regional Incident Management Support Team (IMST) has been established in each affected country and regional levels to coordinate the response.
A dengue criticality risk mapping has been created for 47 countries of the WHO African region, categorizing them into tiers based on the risk of dengue outbreaks (Tier 1 for emergency response, Tier 2 for enhanced readiness interventions, and Tier 3 for preparedness interventions).
An updated comprehensive guideline for preparedness and response to dengue outbreaks in the WHO African region is being developed.
Download the Situation Report 001. You can also access the Dengue situation reports archive by visiting the Dengue health topic on our website.